Saturday 4 January 2014

New Year, New Stationery



As part of my plan to become more organised this year I decided to buy lots of new stationery to sort everything out. I actually ordered all of this stuff a couple of months ago - take that 2014! So I'm excited to finally use everything. There's loads of apps & programs you can use to organise your life but I'm a big stationery geek & I find it therapeutic to write everything down on paper. I'm finally starting to feel motivated again so I want to put a lot more effort into everything I do & become more successful in all my endeavours. My tutor at uni always said 'fail to plan, plan to fail' and I think that's a great motto to live by. I like to feel in control of things so I'll be planning every aspect of my life in great detail to make sure that this year goes as well as it possibly can.





I had a Frankie diary last year & it was so perfect that I simply had to buy another one for this year. Every single page is just beautiful & theres ample space to scribble down all your notes. It's filled with so many useful sections like an address book, shopping lists, birthdays & it even has a pocket at the back. It's basically my dream diary. Delivery from Australia took about two weeks but it was well worth the wait. I made sure I pre-ordered mine though because they always sell like hotcakes. I believe they do still have a few left in the shop so you might be able to get your hands on one if you're lucky.



When I was at uni I used to cart two whole boxes filled with pens back & forth every single day. I've always been obsessed with pens. 'Pens are my friends' (old school League Of Gentlemen reference for you there!). Nowadays I do most of my design work using a small set of black & grey pens or my Wacom tablet so my crazy collection doesn't get used very much anymore. However this means that I can streamline my pen storage & I currently keep everything I need in this gorgeous little Ted Baker pencil case. I was kindly sent this by Surfdome. I've been lusting after the whole Ted Baker bag range for ages so I was incredibly happy to receive this one. Check out their website for more similar items.



This was from the Secret Garden collection at Paperchase. I originally ordered this so I could use it as storage for my eyeshadow palettes but I had grossly underestimated the usefulness of a letter rack. I always end up with loads of papers flying about the place rather than organised in one area. Now I put any incoming bills, letters or documents into this rack & I know exactly where everything is.



To help myself plan for the week ahead I bought this dotty stripe desk pad from Paperchase. It has 52 tear off sheets so it'll last the whole year. I think it's easier to plan your week when it's been set out like this. I'll be using it to help schedule blog posts & note down all the little jobs I need to do each day. I can imagine this becoming a vital part of my everyday life!



I'm still using my pink WHSmith notebook from last year but I felt like I could do with another one for different projects. I bought this orange spot print fabric notebook from Paperchase. I'm always writing down ideas for blog posts in these. I've never gotten along with wirebound notebooks (the wire always gets in the way!) so this style is ideal for me.



I couldn't resist the cuteness of the blossom bird multi list book & doughnuts magnetic list pad. I'm addicted to making lists as I find it easier to plan things in small chunks. I'd never get anything done without them. The book has a notepad on one side & the other has lots of styles of sticky notes so you can put these up around your workspace. The doughnut pad has a magnetic back so you can stick it up on the fridge. I use it for meal planning so I know exactly what food I need to buy for the week. I think I'm well & truly prepared for the year ahead now! Is anyone else a stationery obsessive? How do you organise your life?


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65 comments:

  1. oooh myyyy goooodness! I'm obsessed with stationary, so i am loving this blog post! The Frankie diary is beautiful x

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    1. i actually squeed when it came through the door. it really is the perfect diary xx

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  2. so much prettiness! i love the desk pad, very usual as well. I really want a frankie diary..!!! x

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  3. From one stationery geek to another this all looks amazing and you have actually inspired to spend some time over the rest of the weekend sorting my stuff out! I need to get my half marathon plan written up and was going to do the old school route and use paper and pens to mark out a chart and stuff but stuff that now I am going to get one of those adorable day planners :)
    x

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    1. yay stationery geeks unite! glad to hear i've helped motivate you ;) xx

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  4. I adore nice stationery too! You've bought some lovely stuff. The diary is fab x

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    1. I love Frankie, they always do such nice designs xx

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  5. Ooooh that desk pad looks amazing! I may have to invest in one to keep my affairs in order... I kept meaning to go for a Frankie Diary this year but ended up getting another instead. Can't wait to write up my own new stationery post now, Caroline! x

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    1. The desk pad is so useful, I'm loving it already! xx

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  6. Love this post - I now have a list of things I want

    Jazzie x
    miniinstilettos.blogspot.com

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    1. Paperchase is just dreamy, could buy everything they sell! xx

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  7. I LOVE stationary and always buy a tone in august before I go back to school:) I'm a notepad obsessive I have at least 10! You got such pretty things, I'm jealous <3
    http://sparklyghosts.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Ahh I always used to love shopping for school stationery. New folders, wads of paper, sleeves, highlighters - heaven. Haha I always buy new notebooks even if I haven't finished my last one off xx

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  8. Love this post! I'm such a sucker for stationary!!!!
    Made In The 1990's.

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  9. All of these designs are so cute. I can't believe I haven't picked up any stationery yet for 2014!

    http://ambertypes.blogspot.com xx

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    1. you need to go shopping now! you at least need a new diary ;) xx

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  10. Such cute designs, i get too excited for stationary! I need to get a new diary and notebook as i haven't got any yet!

    Claire xx

    Claire does beauty

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    1. I love that so many people share my love for it :) Get yourself down to Paperchase! xx

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  11. oh my god, i have opened up so many tabs reading this post, i just want it all! this year i'm trying a new way of organising myself (the 'bullet journal') which means i can keep everything in one place, it's so typical of me to have 3 different notebooks/diaries and forget the one i need! xo
    hanne-xo.blogspot.com

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    1. oh wow i just looked into 'the bullet journal' and the system sounds really helpful! i love the idea of indexing everything so you know where to look xx

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  12. Can never have enough stationary! I think I need to get my hands on one of those desk week planner things - life organisation at best! x

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    1. i know i always buy more even if i don't need it hehe. the desk pad is infinitely helpful! xx

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  13. I'm obsessed with pretty stationary as well being the kind of organisation freak which I am haha! Paperchase is one of my favourite stationary shops :) xx

    http://1girl4catsandapeacock.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Paperchase is the best! It's a good job there isn't one where I live or I'd be in there constantly xx

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  14. Snap on the Frankie Diary! Ugh it's just so beautiful. I actually want to be organised just to make use of it! I love the paperchase bits you bought, I'll definitely have to go have a rifle through my local one to see if I can get my hands on some lovely stationary.

    Bella . BELLAETC

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    1. Yes I love how the gorgeousness of the Frankie diary is so motivational! xx

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  15. You have some lovely stationery to see you through 2014, I love browsing for new diaries / notepads & pens - they're so addictive. I am yet to find a 2014 diary that I love yet. I need to get a move on
    http://www.letstalkbeauty.co.uk/

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    1. It really is an addictive habit isn't it? Hope you find one you love! xx

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  16. I remember being a kid and the only reason why I'd get excited for back to school time because it meant new stationery! All those aisles of pens, textas and notebooks... it was heaven! I still get excited about it all and I too picked up my 2014 notebooks a few months in advance. It's good to plan ahead your planning ahead, haha. I have my 2014 diary and a blogging notebook, and I also have one to take down notes for learning French, which is something I really want to get more into this year. I also have a to-do list notepad, so there's really no excuse for me to not be productive this year. If there's anything that can motivate you, it's pretty stationery!

    http://likeneonlove.com

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    1. Yes I loved shopping for school stationery! I really miss the routine of school and organising all my notes & work. I love learning languages too. Organising my Spanish folder was so helpful for remembering vocab & grammar xx

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  17. Using a letter rack for eyeshadow palettes is genius, I need to get myself one! Oh and maybe one for my letters too!

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    1. I'm definitely tempted to buy another one so I can use it for both purposes :) xx

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  18. I'm a total stationary junkie, so loved reading this post! I especially liked the blossom list book, very cute!

    Holly xxx

    www.alongcamehollyblog.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. It's so addictive! I loved that book, it was probably not needed but it was too cute to pass up! xx

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  19. Stationary is just... wonderful! You've found some amazing stuff!!
    george-porge.blogspot.co.uk

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  20. Haha Pauline's Pens! I used to love that show...going to have to look for some YouTube clips now :)

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    1. yay someone got the reference! i really wanna rewatch it all haha xx

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  21. Just got me loots and lots of stationary today! I've always been obsessed with stationary, i even love the smell!
    Great stuff you got there, epsecially that frankie diary rocks! *makes note "to buy a frankie diary for 2015"*
    :)

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    1. haha yes you should sign up to their mailing list, i bought it as soon as they emailed me about the pre-order ;) xx

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  22. Frankie diaries are so lovely - I might buy one next year. You chose such a lovely collection of stationery! I love buying new notebooks, why is it so addictive?! Xo

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    1. You totally should, they're to die for! I buy so many notebooks, I swear I have some unused moleskines tucked away in the cellar :s xx

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  23. I absolutely love this post! & I've also been thinking myself that I need to get more organised so I'm going to take a little trip tomorrow before work to see if I can pick up some things like this to keep me organised. Thanks for the motivation :-)

    Caitlin
    caitacrawford.blogspot.co.uk
    - xoxo

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    1. yay i'm glad to have motivated you! paperchase is always my fave place to pick up cute stationery :) xx

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  24. Ugh stationary porn. I love it!

    http://abigailalicex.blogspot.com

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  25. frankie diary is soo lovely!!

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    1. i know i'm so happy i got it again this year :) xx

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  26. Everything here is way too cute! I think my favourite is the desk pad because the colours just make me so happy!
    xx
    Celina | The Celution | Bloglovin’

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    1. i love the colours & patterns on it too :) it'll definitely make planning my week a little easier xx

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  27. Oh no Caroline I can feel a Paperchase shop coming on. You have featured so many beautiful stationary items here, I simply cannot resist! I particularly like the look of the desk pad organiser. I work from home and could definitely do with one of these to help me organise my days! Great post xo

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  28. New stationery is the best! I love the look of Frankie Diaries and I almost got one but I decided to go back to my paperchase organiser because it's got lots of pages I can frantically scribble notes down and I can buy extra pages if I need them. I might go for a Frankie next year, it's just SO pretty! <3

    Jennie xo | sailorjennie.com

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  29. That frankie diary is gorgeous, wish I actually remembered to use diaries so I could buy pretty ones like that. The desk pad is a super idea though, I've had to buy it in the hope it'll keep me a little more organised at work ( no chance!) xo

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  30. everything is so so pretty and girly, jealous!

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  31. I love all this stuff, I love buying stationary. That desk pad is great, be so helpful for blogging!

    Beth | BethBlogsBeauty
    xx

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  32. I NEED A DAILY JOURNAL!! To sort out all my blogging as I'm horrendous and post as and when I want!

    daisy//daisydaisyxxo

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  33. Love the Frankie Diary, pretty much love stationary lately though, I find it really motivating!

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